Michigan's top Republican warns crowd Dems will 'steal some votes': report

Michigan's top Republican reportedly warned a fundraising crowd that Democrats will "steal some votes," echoing former President Donald Trump's so-called "big lie" — a false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from the MAGA leader through massive voter and electoral fraud.

Pete Hoekstra, chairman of the state's Republican Party, made the remark at a Monday fundraiser in Farmington Hills for, The Detroit News reported Thursday. Hoekstra was referencing a potentially tight Senate race, according to a recording obtained by the newspaper.

In the recording, Hoekstra noted he lost by about 100 votes in 2000.

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"We don't recommend that this cycle," Hoekstra said in the recording. "If it gets that close, we are afraid that they will steal some votes to make sure that he doesn't win."

Hoekstra's comment earned swift rebuke from Democrats, including Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who oversees the state's elections and told the newspaper she invited Hoekstra for a sit-down with elections workers to see "just how secure our elections are."

Earlier this year, Hoekstra was involved in a contentious battle for leadership of the Michigan Republican Party. His attempt to replace the previous chair, Kristina Karamo, led to party infighting.

Hoekstra served as a U.S. representative from 1993 until 2011 and acted as the United States ambassador to the Netherlands under Trump.